Izzo-Brown, Players Earn All-Region Honors

By Shannon McNamara

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December 04, 2013 11:18 AM

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Freshman Ashley Lawrence is one of four Mountaineers to earn all-region honors today.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Four West Virginia University women’s soccer student-athletes, along with 18-year coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire All-Region honors, as announced by the organization.

Senior Frances Silva (forward) and freshmen Kadeisha Buchanan (defender) and Ashley Lawrence (midfielder) were named to the All-Central Region First Team, while junior Kate Schwindel (forward) was named to the second team. Additionally, Izzo-Brown was named the Central Region Coach of the Year.

The three first-team honors match the program high, set in 2007, while the four total selections are the second-best showing in program history. The Mountaineers have earned 19 NSCAA All-Region First Team honors under Izzo-Brown. Today’s first-team selections are all career firsts; Schwindel also was named to the second team in 2012.

Izzo-Brown’s coach of the year honor is the fourth of her career and first since 2007. The reigning two-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, she has earned eight combined conference and regional coach of the year honors since 2000. Izzo-Brown is now one of eight candidates for the NSCAA National Coach of the Year award.

Silva’s regional award comes on the heels of her selection to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalist list. The Overland Park, Kan., native has collected a slew of awards over the last month, as she was a unanimous selection as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the Big 12 Championship Offensive MVP.

Silva, Buchanan, the Big 12 Defender and Newcomer of the Year and Big 12 Championship Defensive MVP, Lawrence and Schwindel all were named to the All-Big 12 First Team in early November.

The Mountaineers (16-4-3, 7-1 Big 12) ended their 2013 campaign with a 1-0 loss at No. 1-seed and College Cup-bound Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament second round on Nov. 22. The Mountaineers captured their second straight Big 12 Conference regular-season title this year en route to their first Big 12 Soccer Championship title. WVU has won five conference titles in four years.

The NSCAA/Continental Tire All-America Teams are scheduled to be released Friday, Dec. 6.